Gilder Group's parts business was opened on a 30,000sq ft site in Sheffield five months ago at a cost of £100,000 in premises, IT and equipment. The VW and Audi dealer's parts division is now on target to achieve annual turnover of £1.5m.
Carmakers are preventing independent garages from joining authorised repairer networks by making excessive demands in their servicing and repair contracts.
Ardal O' Hanlon, star of Father Ted and acclaimed stand-up comedian, will entertain guests at the 2004 AM Awards ceremony.
Former Nidd Vale chairman Richard Jackson will outline the issues facing multi-franchised retailers at the AM Putting Profit Before Turnover conference. The event, on Thursday November 13 at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, will tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the retail motor industry. Jackson, who now runs Mercedes-Benz of North Yorkshire, will talk to key industry players about his experiences in running a high-profile retail group, including the issues faced and how problems were solved.
The former UK sales representative for Midtronics, the American battery test and management equipment maker, has formed his own company to handle the products.
Dealers got their first glimpse of the new-look Mazda MX-5 when the carmaker took the wraps off a concept car at this month's Tokyo motor show.
Cars Direct, the online fleet remarketing company plans to double the size of its Fixed Price Stock Locator (FPSL) service over the next 12 months to sell around 10,000 units during 2004.
According to a Midlands paper, Ford has already told the Government of plans to close Brown's Lane - plans Sir Nick Scheele denied at the Tokyo Motor Show.
In its submission to HM Treasury, ahead of the Chancellor's pre-Budget report in December, the SMMT has sounded a word of caution concerning motoring taxes. Amid growing reports of the rising costs of motoring and the importance of reduced CO2 emissions, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders urged the Chancellor not to de-stabilise the trend towards cleaner cars by over-taxing the motorist in the upcoming report.
Figures compiled by firm KPMG and the automotive consultancy Spyder have highlighted the effect of down-sizing by car buyers, and the gap between list and post-discount new car prices.
Vauxhall's VX220 Turbo has take the Performance Car of the Year crown in this year's CAR magazine awards.
Avis Europe today has signed a supply contract with General Motors, which will supply Avis with 350,000 vehicles during the next five years in the “largest fleet agreement in history” on the continent.
Nissan Motor announced today that has committed Y15bn to Y16bn this year cover the cost of recalling 2.56m cars sold in Japan and abroad due to engine problems.
Takashi Sonobe, chairman of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) since June 2002, died on Tuesday of a heart attack, at the age of 62.
Most insurance companies realise that the current model of repair cost management actually results in inflated repair costs rather than repair cost savings. This is the key finding of a new research report from MFBI (Market Facts and Business Information) that shows average repair costs continue to rise above the rate of inflation while bodyshop profitability continues to fall.
MG Sport & Racing has announced the sales launch of the MG XPower SV, a car which it says, “catapults the Company into competition with the best of the world's performance vehicle manufacturers”.
Over two million owners of Vauxhalls between four and 10 years old are being targeted by a new Vauxhall service promotion. Available from Vauxhall Retailers and MasterFit Centres throughout the UK from £99 (example Astra F models), the package includes a service and MOT test, plus free AA Roadside Assistance Cover for the next 12 months.
Lex Vehicle Leasing has won what it calls a ground breaking long term contract with Siemens to provide employee-owned cars for Siemens' employees across its 24 UK businesses.
Demand for Toyota's second-generation Prius hybrid is proving some 40% higher than expected, and the firm wants to increase output from 6,000 to 10,000 units a month.
The new Block Exemption Regulation has given franchised dealers cause to remain hopeful in the face of falling margins and increasing manufacturer control according to a new survey, soon to be published by the Retail Motor Industry Federation.
”The opening of the ReMIT Centre for Technical Excellence represents a fundamental shift in the way the retail motor sector approaches the training of its staff,” commented Fred Maguire, president of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), at the opening of ReMIT's new training centre today, 28 October
A new leaflet from the Department for Work and Pensions, which folds out so it can be used as a poster for display, provides practical advice aimed at preventing workers getting asthma from isocyanate chemicals in 2-pack paints used in bodyshops.
Recent figures reveal that UK consumers borrowed nearly £10 billion in June, the biggest jump ever and a record 14% rise on the previous year. However, Singer & Friedlander Finance is urging consumers to be careful before committing themselves to long-term finance agreements.
The German mail order business Tschibo has joined another German counterpart in retailing new cars, but in contrast to the Quelle operation which offered 10% off new Golf Mk 5s before they hit showrooms, is offering a limited edition Fiat Stilo with the full co-operation of the manufacturer.
Motaquip, the PSA Peugeot Citroen-owned all-makes aftermarket parts operation, has launched a series of technical information posters for independent garage operators. The first focuses on steering and suspension components, outlining basic function and providing guidance on fault diagnosis and common reasons for failure.
The 69th BEN Ball will this year be celebrating Chief Executive, Geoffrey Atkinson's forthcoming retirement, following 25 years at the head of the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund charity.
Arriva Vehicle Rental has expanded its operations, with the acquisition of Luton-based Wilton Vehicle Rental, which specialises in the truck contract hire and daily rental.
General Motors Corp and Fiat SpA have announced that they will delay by a year the start of the 'put option' that will allow Fiat to sell Fiat Auto to GM.
Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) members working at Land Rover voted in a ballot on Thursday 23 October to reject an offer of a 6.5% pay rise over two years, by 5,055 votes to 1,117.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that overall British car production in September climbed 6.3 per cent to 153,542 units, while export production leapt 18.3 per cent, accounting for 106,819 units, representing 69.6 per cent of total output.
